Envelope-opener



M. R. MUGKLE L Envelope Openers.

No. 233,161 Patented Oct. 12,1880.

".FETHS. FHOTO-LITHDGBAPHEFI. WBNINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARK It. MUOKLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVELOPE-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,161, dated October 12, 1880. Application filed February 16, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK R. MUCKLE, of Philadelphia. in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Envelope- Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a metallic blade that is tapering and convex on both sides, and provided with a metallic handle having an opening in the same. This tapering blade is adapted to be inserted into the angle of an envelope and used as a knife to separate the paper, and the metal handle and blade are either formed in one or firmly connected, and the opening in the handle facilitates the grasping of the implement, so that it is not liable to slip in the hand.

This envelope-opener is adapted to use as a paper knife and folder, and can be used to cut the sheets of pamphlets and books, and for many other objects in oflices and countingrooms.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents the paper-cutter by a side view. Fig. 2 is a section of the blade at the line a; x, and Fig. 3 is a similar section of an enlarged size.

The blade (1 is tapering and about a quarter of an inch wide at the hilt, and the edges are nearly straight and run to a sharp point. The metal is convex on the sides, so that the section, as represented in Figs. 2 and 3, is included within two arcs of circles 5 hence the cutting or tearing edges are at the junction of the ends of the arcs.

The handle hot this implement is of metal, with an elongated opening, 0, through it. This handle is preferably made as a continuation of the same metal as the blade; but the handle may be of metal cast around a tang on the blade. The general outline of this handle, as shown, is such as to enable the person using the envelope-opener to firmly grasp the same, and the hole in the handle also increases the facility for holding the implement, and prevents the risk of the same slipping out of the 5 hand.

The utility of this implement will be apparent. The peculiar curved surfaces of the blade render the instrument peculiarly adapted to folding and creasing papers, and the cuttingedges are of the proper shape for separating sheets of paper, and the long narrow point can be thrust into the angle of an envelope and cut the same open with rapidity.

I am aware that blades have been made of a variety of shapes, and that handles have in some instances been made in one piece of metal with the blade.

My envelope-opener is a new and useful article of manufacture, and there is no previ- 6o ous instance in which an implement has been made in the manner described and having the peculiarities set forth.

I claim as my invention- The cutting and folding implement having 6 a long narrow and tapering metallic blade with convex surfaces, cutting-edges, and a metallic handle, in which is an elongated opening, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 9th day of February, A. I). 1880.

M. RICH MUOKLE.

Witnesses:

FRANK SMITH, HENRY S. SrILEs. 

